The budget department released close to P140 million in pork barrel to the province of Dinagat Islands last month or six months after its representative, fugitive cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr., was stricken off the congressional roster.

Ecleo was removed from the list of members of the House of Representatives after the Supreme Court affirmed the Sandiganbayan’s guilty verdict on Ecleo for his role in irregularities in several infrastructure projects in San Jose, Surigao del Norte, where he served as mayor from 1991 to 1994.

He was sentenced to 18-31 years in prison and ordered to pay P2.8 million to the government.

Ecleo, a wanted man with a large bounty on his head, was also convicted last April of killing his young wife in 2002. He took over the cult, the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association Inc., founded by his father, after the latter died in 1987.

Data from the official website of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed a total of P138.875 million in priority development assistance fund (PDAF), also known as pork barrel, was released between Dec. 4 and Dec. 19 for projects in Dinagat.

The amount includes P78.75 million for a road, bridges, buildings and water projects; P21.175 million for 77 multi-cabs; and P21.3 in financial assistance for hospital, burial and scholarships.

On top of the purchase of multi-cabs (with a passenger capacity of 12) for six municipalities in Dinagat, the DBM also approved the purchase of two ambulances (total P2.4 million) and six four-wheel drive vehicles (total P9 million).

District’s caretaker

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Jr. defended the release of Ecleo’s two years’ worth of PDAF, noting that this was facilitated through Akbayan Rep. Kaka Bag-ao.

“The PDAF, as we have always maintained, does not go to the representative of the district but to the constituents. When Representative Ecleo’s name was stricken off the House roster, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. designated Bag-ao, who is from Dinagat Island, as caretaker of the district.

“She then facilitated the request for projects coming from LGUs (local government units) and national agencies with offices in the province. So what appears in the records as PDAF allocations for 2011 and 2012 was facilitated through this arrangement,” said Abad, campaign manager of the Liberal Party (LP) in the 2010 elections.

‘Tainted’

Two representatives, one from a party-list group and one from Mindanao who both declined to be named for fear of reprisal from the LP, said the release of pork barrel funds to Dinagat was politically tainted.

They noted that Bag-ao, an administration ally who was one of the House prosecutors in the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, had filed her candidacy for the Dinagat congressional seat in the May midterm elections.

Bag-ao has forged an alliance with Dinagat Vice Gov. Jade Ecleo, a newly minted LP member, to wrest control of the province from the latter’s mother, Dinagat Gov. Glenda Buray Ecleo.

Bag-ao is closely linked to the President’s political affairs adviser and Akbayan president, Ronald Llamas. A P59.505 million in pork barrel was released last year for her projects as Akbayan representative.

In case of a vacancy in a congressional seat, the Commission on Elections holds a special election or the House appoints a caretaker for the district, normally a lawmaker from an adjacent province, according to two representatives.

No special elections

In Dinagat Islands’ case, no special election was held and a party-list representative was named caretaker instead of a representative from Surigao province from which Dinagat Islands used to belong until 2006.

“Instead of a special election to elect a new representative as is usually the practice, such as in the case of former Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, Dinagat is left without a representative even as the DBM released the district’s pork barrel to a caretaker who happens to be the administration’s candidate in the next elections. Nice,” said the party-list representative, who asked not to be named.

“It is obvious from the purchases made through the pork barrel, from the multi-cabs to multipurpose buildings to financial assistance projects, that these PDAF releases are in aid of election,” the Mindanao lawmaker said.

Sharp contrast

The last-minute releases to Dinagat Islands courtesy of Bag-ao contrasted sharply with the DBM’s treatment of members of the opposition and rival groups of Akbayan who received zero pork barrel allocations last year.

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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002666048311 Samuel Bilibit

The Abuse of the PORK BARREL was most rampant during the administration of GLORIA MAKAPAL-ARROYO, the most corrupt of all former presidents with Ferdinand Marcos coming in as the second most corrupt.Both are KAWATAN.

LucianoChing

With the way things are turning up now,would you be surprised if Pnoy will turn out to overtake GMA and FM regarding the abuse of the use of the pork barrel by 2016?
One need not be corrupt in the manipulation of the pork barrel.
In the guise of giving out the pork barrel funds for a district,it is actually election funds for an administration candidate…Again,the men of the president are doing what they like to do,taking advantage of the Presidents’ popularity…Hope it will not cost them a debacle this coming 2013 midterm elections.

pork barrel is being used to control the voters…hindi ba maliwanag sa iyo yan?

Global1st

Looking @ the numbers if this PB are use… say 70% to what they are appropriated for you will see progress instantly….but the sad part is it all goes to the deep pockets of this said “representatives”…kaya nga “Representative” as an elected congressman/woman you are representing for the interest of people = your district

boldyak

and Pork Barrel is being used to control the legislative…no more check and balance in the government…tanggalin ang pork barrel at ang matitira lang sa legislative ay mga taong may gustong umunlad ang bayan sa pag gawa ng mga kailangang batas…

abner

malaking check yan…ang tanong panu mo matatanggal yang pork na iyan?

zeroko

He he he! We never learn the lesson. These old TRAPOS either in Liberal Party or in the opposition were formerly members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD during Gloria’s term. Wala nang bagong mukha. Ang sabi ng iba same “DOGS” with different collar . Our Political Arena are being contested by the same rich, powerful, and influential people of the community. And they are a stereotype of Filipino-Chinese.

Gamgarampot lamang ang full blooded Filipino sa politics natin. Paano kasi, walang pera. Politics is dominated and seemingly an exclusive game for the rich Filipino-Chinese. And many of these Filipino-Chinese like HOuse Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. who formerly belongs to Gloria’s camp together with other the LGU of Q.C. like former Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista deserted Gloria en-mass and joined L.P. of PNoy. So, what is new? These kind of politicians are nothing more than an OPPORTUNIST and a PREDATOR. Kung saan ang malakas, lipat sila, para bang mga langgam na lumalapit sa matamis. Their main concern is not for the nations well being, but instead, they are more interested on their political survival. Worst, they are increasing their tribe (political dynasty) to join politics just like House Speaker Belmonte Jr., did. In the May 2010 National Election, from two Belmontes, former Mayor Belmonte Jr. and Q.C. Councilor Vincent Belmonte, their number increased to 5 candidates. One lost, and the four won.

This just goes to show how dastardly politics is in our country. Belmonte spent no less than 300 million pesos in the May 2010 election in spite of receiving a measly not more than P16 thousand pesos basic salary per month. The question now is where did he get the rest of the campaign fund?

Correct ka dyan, sir! Give us some more nerve-wracking revelations so that the public may know what’s happening in the political arena. Sa totoo lang, politics is making the country more of a pauper owing to the personal interests of some TRAPOS.

zeroko

I’m running as an Independent Mayor Candidate of Q.C. I have no money except the one in my pocket. You will know me when you see that I have no tarpaulin or political adds when the time comes. I am fighting a formidable force who are now in power in Q.C. Hall.

My first “baptism of fire” against politicians in Q.C. was sometime in 2005. I read a comment written by certain Neal Cruz of Inquirer the title of which was “Greedy Q.C. Councilors plans to raise Real Estate Tax. I wrote and delivered personally to the 22 Councilors a letter asking their ground of imposing additional Real Estate tax. Not one answered my letter of inquiry, which is a violation of Civil Service Code that “All government employees are to answer any inquiry from their constituent within 15 days on what steps they have made related to the letter.”

Then again, I approach former Mayor Belmonte Jr. sometime in 2008 about the big increase on the rate of Mayor’s Permit. Calamba City and Olongapo City was charging from 500 to 750 pesos for their barbershop but here in Q.C. they are charging a whooping P14,000 per annum. He he he. In the mentioned two cities, Carinderia’s Mayor Permit is also 500 to 750 pesos while in Q.C., a Carinderia in the squatter area between Mother Ignacia and Roces Avenue was charge P15,000. And the worst thing any Mayor can say against these increase on local rate is “Magsara ka kung hindi mo kayang bayaran.” I was taken aback when I heard it coming from the very popular figure in Politics, and now the House Speaker of the August Chamber. He he he. That former Mayor of Q.C. left his position with a P427 million disallowed expenses during his tenure as Mayor. This appeared in the 2009 Fiscal Year Audit of Q.C as stated by COA..

Three Q.C. Councilors after winning again in May 2010 painted their names on the walls ONE MONTH AFTER THE ELECTION. They are Councilor Suntay, Vincent Belmonte, and Lagman Jr.. What a dastardly conceit The election fever of May 2010 has not yet subsided and they are already planning for the 2013 election, a three years EPAL? Their painted political adds dotted many walls in District 4 of Q.C.

The basic Salary of Q.C.Councilor is only 14,300 pesos per month. Where on earth did they got the money to pay for the painting jobs? There are over 500 paintings around District 4 and It requires an expert painter and naturally the painting job may go as high as P8,000 per frame because of the 3-Dimensional effect on the picture which is so apparent. It will take he he he! the Councilors 23 years base on their salary in order to pay for the paintings. He he he. Where did the money came from?

I have a very very very limited money, and I have 3 children 2 in College and I in high school to support. I really pity myself asking former Mayor Candidate Matay and Mike Defensor to hitch a ride on their car because my 1995 car is so old and about to disintegrate, during the “Open forum” sessions sponsored by the different organizations. Here before you is a true Filipino who against all odds is still fighting for a cause. Mike Defensor and former Mayor Mathay has thrown their towel, they give up.

This is my country, our country, and we have to fight for it. Otherwise, we will go the way of the American Indians, the natives of Hawaii, and the Aborigines of Australia. They are now a vanishing breed. Let us fight while we still can. Remember, PNoy is selling fast all OUR government lands and properties to the Chinese. We may wake up one day and realize that this country is no longer ours.

Because I think that zeroko has: a heart of a real filipino; will defend our nation against foreigners whoever they may be, violating our nationhood; and have the behavioral characteristics I do not see in almost all of our politicians today to lead a people towards recovering the status of unity and excellence we had as a nation in the 1900s, I am considering supporting him in whatever capacity I have, however limited they may be, in his candidacy for Mayor of Quezon City. What better way to start regenerating the original Determinant of National Actions we are supposed to inherit from the founding fathers of our nation than with a pilot project in a local entity. Quezon City is one of the local entities that is a good place to start with.

Sooner or later, his identity will of course be revealed for us. Let us filipinos recover our status of excellence, thru this gentleman. Let us start with zero with zeroko. Let us end up with 100% in excellence for Quezon City.

Rovingmoron

Why can’t the NPA hitmen go after these corrupt politicians? They don’t deserve to live in this world because they’re making life more miserable for the impoverished majority. Is is because these politicians give the NPA revolutionary taxes, too?

The Congress, the lower and upper house, WILL NEVER ever scapped the PORK BARREL. Yes, it is all about money. Whoever sitting president maybe, their allies wont allow the PDAF scrapped for good kasi paano nalang ang mga shopping at mga celphone at kotse ni ate at kuya.

What’s new?
Nothing.
Laws can be passed through the barrel of the pork.
Elections are insignificant with these thieves. They changed hands within the family.
Dynasty rules over and over again…It is a culture of cults that reign over provinces.
Family names ring like mantras with voters while other candidates’ family names do not ring a bell.
Hooray for Butch Abad..the hatchet man who holds a double-edged ax to split PDAF into pros and cons. Of course, the cons fight over the crumbs of pork while the pros are served generous portions on a plate.
Only in the Philippines, a party list rep can take over a congressional district without opposition. Legislators simply grumble and hide behind anonymity to spread gossip to media.
There is no more delicadeza left in Congress. Garapalan na lang ng mukha.
Where is the fugitive Ruben Ecleo Jr.?
Reminds me of Sen. Ping Lacson who reappears after more than a year of hiding when all was clear and he was cleared of all charges for double murder and extrajudicial killings. Wow!
Will the same fate apply to a murderous cult leader?
It is no longer fun when this happens again.

Although it’s sad to think that after the above elimination, the remaining choices from major
political parties are TRAPOS and thieves anyway, we might find hope from
other candidates. Read their credentials and accomplishments. There’s
nothing to lose voting for non-TRAPOS. Even if they turn out to be
thieves anyway, what difference does it make? At least, it will still
take time for them learn the ropes of corruption before they can
actually start stealing and let’s just vote them out next time they’re
due for re-election. But remember, TRAPOS are hopelessly corrupt and
greedy whereas, we might just get lucky with the new comers. Newcomers
are still idealistic and full of dreams and plans for the greater good.
Some of them may actually be running because they are sick and tired of
the TRAPOS and they are hopeful that they can make a difference.

The TRAPOS are also the ones perpetuating illeteracy among the poor
dahil dito sila kumukuha ng boto dahil madali ngang lokohin ng pangako
at biyaya. If we add up the total number of voters in Class E (dito
kumukuha ng boto ang mga TRAPO) plus a portion of Class D mas marami pa
ding boto and total ng Class A + B + C + a small percentage of Class D.

Indonesia and Malaysia does not allow other race in their politics. And now, they have an economy to reckon with. Indonesia two years ago has ordered 30 top of the line stealth fighter airplanes from Korea which was license to produce the Rapport or F-22. Malaysia has couple of Submarines on top of their F-16s. Tayo, WALA! Napunta lahat ang pera natin sa kurakot. Pang parade ground lang ang military natin. Mga “Chocolate soldiers.” Magaling lang mamaril ng atin indigenous tribes who are defending their ancestral lands which are being grab by Chinese capitalist. In fact, there are several illegal mines by the Chinese right here in our country, and many times, our Bureau of Immigration apprehend more than 50 Chinese miners working without permit. He he he.

Ninanakao nila ang ginto, silver, and copper natin atbp. right at the very nose of our Chinese Dominated Government. And surprisingly, Central Bank which was suppose to buy all gold extracted from these mines only get 2% of the gold. 98% of these precious metals are being smuggled out of our country by unscrupulous Chinese. And the only benefit the Filipinos get are toxic waste like Mercury, Sulfur Dioxide, lead, and Arsenic which are use to separate these minerals. Wala na. Ang Philex mining ni Pangilinan, more than 3,000,000 tons of toxic entrails polluted the rivers affecting our agricultural lands, our rivers, the fish ponds, and our seas. These toxic elements stays put in our soil. In fact, there are already mutant “Tilapia” appearing in the affected areas.

This is what we get voting Filipino-Chinese in our government. They do not care less what happens to the Filipinos. Harap harapan na ang pambabastos nila sa mga Pilipino.

http://profile.yahoo.com/LJVSZRQ7PBVINM5F6LL2HRURKA Rinaanir

Nakupo naman!

allandel

quo vadis, pnoy?

Yobhtron

We need a plebiscite to scrap any form of pork barrel to our legislators. We can’t rely on them to pass a law removing pork barrel. Another beneficial law would be to limit the number of Tongressmen. Karamihan naman diyan palaging absent at walang ginagawa.

Mananandata69

tanggalin si A Bad. An independent department must be created who will decide where to release the pork barrel.

there’s really nothing new with the ‘daan matuwid’ of the Liberal Party. You can check it in the next year’s election that most of the GMA Allies who enjoyed the corruption of the previous administration are now running under the Liberal Party especially in the local elections. You can think of the relatives of the AMPATUAN, who live like Saudi Royalties during the time of GMA, are now with the Liberals. ECLEO is a powerful clan controlling like a Totalitarian regime the Dinagat Island with their religion, the Philippine Benevolent. Their clan is notorious in silencing those who will oppose their candidacy. The mother who is an incumbent Governor is bedridden for years now and the one running the local government and milking it are the children and their church. Despite the conviction of Former Congressman Ruben Ecleo for the killing of his wife including her family and witnesses, the family is now supported by the Liberal Party and by the AKBAYAN Kaka. What can you expect of this party controlled now by the once GMA allies, Ting-ting and Peping? Tita and Tito ko ‘yon huwag nyong pakialaman. end of story!

droccu

Weather weather lang yan..DBMs defense sounds logical though that the “pork” does “not go to the representative of the district but to the constituents”. It would be unfair to the district if they are are not given their fair share to fund local projects just because they elected a corrupted official….On the other hand…if the detractors really think that something illegal was done then sue them…

kilabot

daming pork nyan.
baka ma hi-blood pressure sana kayo.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PZR7JI7G2WD2CTVMZ7LM667FD4 Ugly Bunny

This kind of situation calls for FOI bill. Make this bill a priority.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_E3CE56OQVPC4RPYD2NR4VD3SUE Bert

Quoting the late VP Emmanuel Pelaez, “WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COUNTRY, GENERAL?”.

Just to look at in the past. Before the voting of Impeachment of former CJ Corona, a mysterious withdrawal of 2.3 billion pesos intended for “Farm to Market Road” occured in the Department of Agriculture. Even the HEAD of the DA was caught by surprise had his attention been called by the Press. All he can do during the interview is to scratch his head because of the swiftness of the withdrawals. Na blitzkrieg ang pondo ng DA. This withdrawal happened 3 days before Congress has to vote whether or not to impeach former CJ Corona.

Nakita naman ninyo ang kilos ng mga Representa-thieves natin. Nagaagawan, nagkakandarapa, kulang na lang, nagkakalmutan na pumirma at baka mahuli sa pansitan. It is now an open secret that those who voted in favor for the Impeachment did not even bother to read the “Ground for Impeachment.” He he he. SAKIM.

About Dinagat, that island is typified as rocky, mostly forested areas, and beaches, and about 100 thousand population base on the 2000 census. The question now is with 140 million pesos, it boils down that each individual in Dinagat can get more than a million pesos if the pork barrel was directly distributed among the populace.

Ba, daming tuba yan. Besides, why develop that place? Instead of 77 multicabs, the people there if given a choice would rather buy a 50 thousand pesos motorcycle? Forget about the roads and bridges, a pathway is enough for a motorcycle. Magaling ang mga Pinoy sa motorcycle. I have seen some who travels the mountain side using walkways. He he he. And the driver has 4 passengers riding in tandem.

Sa galing ng Pinoy sa motorcycle, we can pit them against international motocross competition. He he he.

MR. CABACUNGAN, A WRITER NOT MENTIONING HIS SOURCES IS WITCH HUNTING OR FOMENTING INTRIGUE SIMILAR TO THE JOURNALISM OF TULFO PURO BATIKOS WALA NAMANG NANGYAYARI.

NAME YOUR SOURCES THEN FILE THE APPROPRIATE CASE AT THE OMBUDSMAN IF YOU HAVE A PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE SO THAT THE PUBLIC SHALL ADORE YOU BUT REFRAIN FROM USING THE NEWSPAPER TO FLING YOUR POTSHOTS THAT MERELY ARE FOR INTRIGUES FOR THE PUBLIC THINKS OTHERWISE THAT YOU’RE ONLY AFTER THE FIX.

Since when did Bulacan Rep. Joselito Mendoza and Iligan City Rep. Vicente Belmonte became ” members of the opposition and rival groups of Akbayan who received zero pork barrel allocations last year?” Check you facts straight PDI. Balance news, where?